Separable Piezoelectric droplet dispenser for Inkjet and Electrohydrodynamic Printing

This study addresses the drawbacks of existing piezoelectric inkjet dispenser, namely long production cycles and nozzle fragility, by developing a separable piezoelectric printing nozzle suitable for both inkjet and electrohydrodynamic (EHD) printing. When the nozzle is damaged or requires a different size, it can be replaced easily by plugging and unplugging, significantly reducing usage costs and production time. We used a 30% glycerol-water solution as the ink and tested the nozzle’s functionality in both continuous and on-demand modes for inkjet printing and EHD jetting, respectively. Functional patterns were printed to verify the practical printing capability of the fabricated nozzle. The working principle of the nozzle was detailed, revealing that the oscillation and jetting at the nozzle orifice are primarily caused by the transmission, reflection, and superposition of one-dimensional pressure waves within the tube.